Ultra-processed Foods‘Linked’ to Cancer

The link appears to be slight but this reminds me of what father used to say about the local farmer. If the farmer doesn’t recognize his food, he won’t eat it. So no chicken nuggets.

I didn’t realize the definition of ultra-processed but here’s what the authors say:

Mass-produced packaged breads and buns

Sweet or savoury packaged snacks including crisps

Chocolate bars and sweets

Sodas and sweetened drinks

Meatballs, poultry and fish nuggets

Instant noodles and soups

Frozen or shelf-life ready meals

Foods made mostly or entirely from sugar, oils and fats

The following numbers are based on the French study conducted in Paris. I suspect our‘Merican’ diets are way worse.

On average, 18% of people’s diet was ultra-processed

On average, there were 79 cancers per 10,000 people each year

Upping the proportion of processed food by 10% would lead to nine extra cancers per 10,000 people per year

However, this should be noted.

Dr Ian Johnson, from the Quadram Institute in Norwich, said the study had“identified some rather weak associations”.

But he criticised the vagueness of the term ultra-processed. He said:“The problem is that the definition of ultra-processed foods they have used is so broad and poorly defined that it is impossible to decide exactly what, if any, causal connections have been observed.” via BBC